Asthma: Healthy Diet Eases Symptoms

If you have asthma, a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains may help reduce symptoms and improve breathing.

In a French study in the European Respiratory Journal, in 2018, nearly 2,600 people with asthma answered detailed questionnaires about their diet and respiratory symptoms. Those whose diets scored highest on standard healthy eating indexes (including one based on the Mediterranean diet) tended to have fewer asthma symptoms and better control of the disease. The researchers adjusted the data to account for asthma-related factors, such as smoking.

The researchers suggested that, among the possible mechanisms, high-quality plant-based diets may help reduce airway inflammation.